Clamping electrode



Dec; "13; 1927.

F. H. WAPPLER CLAMPING ELECTRODE Filed April 6, 1925 .ILTELJ'RE E 4 E R u E A w 7 8 mm 2 E 2 3 E u E 4 am; W2 5 w DJ 2/- m 1 M.

ATTORNEY Patented ea. 13, 192.7.

restate rarest rnnnnnicri a wnrrtnn, or riiusnine, new roan, Assreivon T0 'WAPPLEB rare COMPANY Inc, or YORK.

J ELEC- 120K G ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW CLAMPING ELECTRODE.

Application filed April 6, l925.- Serial No. 20,898.

My invention relates to clamping electrodes of the type in which there is an electrode clamp so formed and arranged as to becapable of adjustment within wide limits and for diflerent purposes, and provided with electrodes through which; current is passed through various parts of theh'uman body.

My device is suitable-tor various medical and therapeutical uses, in connection with electric currents of different kinds, and particularly with high frequency currents and with constant and induced currents.

More particularly stated, my invention i contemplates an electrode clamp so formed,

- and arranged'that with the electrodes mount- 7 ed upon it and ready for use it is as a whole suitable for automatically holding itself and the electrodes in position upon practically any predetermined par-tot the human anatomy, or in other words, is self-clinging, and

is yet so constructed and operated as to be r capable oi": a large number of adjustments.

My improved clamping electrode is so constructed and arranged that, with the electrodes which it carries, it may be opened and closed somewhatv after the manner. of a pair of tongs, and yet maybe so adjusted that the electrodes are veryclose together or very wide apart as the case may be, this 7 adjustment of the electrodes being independent of the the device. 7 Y

My device is also suitably arranged for using the two electrodes as bipolar electrodes or connecting them directly together for use as a unipolar electrode. I Y

My device is relatively simple in construction, easy to manufacture and made of parts readily standardized. It occupies comparatively small space and is light in construction, as well as easy to handle in practice.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing forming a part of my specification, and in which like reference characters inclicate like parts throughout the several'figures. Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of my device, certain parts being shown as broken away.

F igure2 is a section on the line 22, of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. i Figure 3 is a side elevation or another form of my device, certain parts being shown as broken away. I

pivotal or tongs-like movement'of are b lt 12 r id d more closely together.

Figure 6 is a side elevation showing the form of my device appearing in Figure 1, butwith the electrodes adjusted askew relative to other parts for accommodating the device to a particular part of the anatomy.

Figure 7 form of my device appearing in Figure 1, but with the electrodes adjusted askew relative to other parts to adapt the device to a different position than that contemplated by Figure 6.

I will first describe the form of my device appearing in Figures 1 and 2:

A pair of arms 8, 8, made of insulating material are formed alike and each provided with a slot 9, shown more particularly in Figure 2, this slot extending lengthwise of the arm. Mounted upon each arm 8 is an electrode 10, having the general form of a flat plate, slightly curved. Each arm is carried' by a corner 11 of metal and secured to the latter by a bolt 11.

Extending through the corner pieces 11 with threaded portions 13, and revolubly fitted upon these bolts are milled nuts 1 L adapted to be turned by hand.

Adjustably connected with the corner pieces 11 by means of the bolts12 and milled nuts 14: are a pair of supporting arms 15. These is a side elevation showing the supporting arms are exactly alike and are each provided with a slot 16, as shown at the right of Figure 1. The adjacent bolt 12 1 extends through this slot 15, and with the. adjacent corner piece .11 and parts carried thereby is slidable back and forth upon the supporting arm 15.

Connected with the supporting arms 15, 15, are a pair of handle pieces 17 17, each handle piece 17 being practically a continuation of the adjacent supporting arm 15.

A coiled spring 18 is provided with a pair of end portions 19 which engage the adjacent handle pieces 17 and tend to force the latter apart, asmay be understood from Figure 1. vThis coiled spring 18 encircles a rivet 20 of tubular form. This rivet is secured rigidly to a yoke 21 and extends loosethem in Figure 1, the portion of the yoke 21 at the right of the rivet 20 is engaged and pressed against the adjacent edge portion ofthe' yoke 22, and acts as a limiting stop. Thus while the spring 18 by its tension has a'tendency to rock the yokes 21 and 22 in opposite d rections upon the axis oi the rivet 20. a center, the limiting stop just mentioned normally holds the yokes 21 and 22 in the positions indicated, for them in Figure 1, exceptwhen the handles 17, 17 are moved towardeachother.

It is obvious'that except when the handles 17 are pressed toward each other, the supporting'arms 15 extend in exactly opposite directioinand consequently that the arms 8, 8 are strictly parallel with each other, as indicatedin Figure 1.

The action of the form of my device appearing in Figure 1 may be readily understood i ron'i the foregoing description.

The operator, by grasping the handles 17, 17 and pressing then'i toward eachother, causes the yokes 21 and 22to rock relatively to each other, so that the arms 8, 8, of insulatin'gf material swing angularly further apart, carrying with them the electrode plates 10, 10, these plates being thus moved further apart, and tilted to different angles. releasing the pressure upon the handles 17, the operator causes the pressure of the spring 18 to shift the 'yokes 21and22 back into-their relative normal positions, the arm S Sand parts carried therebybeing by this movement restored to the V oect-ive poi." tions indicated torthem in Figurel.

The form ofmyfdevice appearing in Figure Sd'i'li'ers slightly from that appearing in ldigure 1, as Iavill'now explain. In the construction shown in Fi ures 3' and at are two arms 23, 23, each. L-shaped and made or metal, and eachprovide'd with a slot 24, corresponding in general function to the slotJ shown in Figure 2. Each arm 23, 523 is provided with a portion through which extends screw it this screw having athi'ead ed portion 2'? which eaten" in theportion Q5 and is fitted with a revoluble milled nut 28'.

The screwQG also extends through a slot 30 in a supporting arm 29, as may be under-- stood from Figure 4i. There are two of these supporting arms 29, each made of in sulating material, and each has the form of a flat bar.

A pairv of handles are made of metal and provided respectively with portions 32 a through a hole bent in opposite directions as indicated in Figure 3, these portions being secured rigidly to the adjacent end portions of the sup porting-arm by means of rivets 32 The arms 32'areprovided with portions 33 and 34;, formed into yokes and pivotally mounted in connection with the spring 18, as above described with reference to Figures 1 and WVitheither form of my device the electrode plates 10, 10 are mounted upon threaded bolts 36, which extend through the slots 9' or 2i, as the case may be. otthesupporting arms'8for23. Revolubly vfitted-upon the threaded bolt 30 a milled nut 37, carrying a: split stem 38 of tubular form. There are two of these stems exactly alike, and fitting into each is a pin 40 constituting the tip of a conducting. cord ll. Electric currents are supplied to the electrodes 10 through these conducting cords 41, in the usual or'any desired manner;

While in either form of my device the electrode plates are arranged as bipolar'e'lectrodes, they can. in either instancebe made to serve together as a unipolar electrode by connecting' them together by a short piece of wire, not shown, in the mannerwell known in this art. v

Again, it is obvious that the arms 23', 23 and parts carried thereby as shown in Figure 3 may be substituted for the corner pieces l1, 11 shown in Figure 1, and the devs s time used as a single pole clamping electrode.

Except as stated, the construction and actionot the form of my device shown in Figure 3 is like that appearing in Figures 1 and 2; v

With either form above described, the de vice has a wide range of adaptability and can be so adjusted; as to move the electrode plates 10, 10 close together, in a substantially straight line, orto leave them a con sidera'bledistance apart, while atthe same time allowing them to bemovedangularly, under control of the handles. 7

With the electrode plates 10,10 and parts immediately associated therewith arranged as indicated in F igures l and 2, the electrodes can be brought into engagement with opposite sides of a, rather large or thick anatomical member such asa thigh, the neck, or the torso and yet the relative positions ot'lth'e electrode plates lQ'can be shifted angularfly, like the blades of a pair of scissors. Thus any required spacing, within. the limits of adjustability otthe apparatus, can .be made between the electrode plates,although the latter are normally held in such position that the metallic arms are iarallel with each other; and with the electrode plates thus,.spac,ed. apart, ,theycan .still be shifted to different angles relatively to each other, by pressing the handles toward each other, as above described.

' face eachother and yetbe closer together,- as indicated in Figure 5. In this figure the sides of an anatomical me1nber,-such as a forearm, a wrist, or even a finger. For this purposethe arms 8, 8, or 23, 23 as the case may be, are each turned around and the electrode plates 10. are taken off these arms and turned around relatively toward them, so that the elect-rode plate 10, 10 will still electrode plates'are shown as fitted against opposite sides of an anatomical member-'35, such as an ankle or a forearm, and which is of relatively small size. a

T To change thedevice shown in Figure 3, so that it may be used as indicated in Figure'5, is thus a matter of simple adjustment. Again, it may sometimes happen that in using either form of the device it may be desirable to shift 'the'electr'ode plates 10, 10, into such positions, relative to the supporting arms carrying them, that their handles 32, 32 will extend in some direction convenient for them to be grasped by the operator. This purpose isaccomplished in the manner which may be understood by an inspection of Fig ure 6. "As may-beseen from this figure, the electrode plates are so positioned relatively to-the'other parts of the device that they may be readily fitted upon the anatomical member 35 in practically any position the latter may occupy,'and yet so that the handles 32 extend in such direction as to enable them to be readily grasped by the v operator.

In' the clamping electrodes heretofore used, the electrode plates have been adjustableangularly, like the blades of a pair of sc-issors, b'ut have not been adjustable toward and from each other by movements in straight lines. The result was that whenever such a clamping electrode was usec, succe sively upon anatomical members of different sizes; such as the wrist, ankle, 'neck and thigh, the electrode plates were shifted to successively different angles relatively to each other, and the distribution of the current and the length of its path was varied accordingly, with bad results. If a given electrode clamp with its pair of'electrode plates were placed upon one anatomical part the distribution of current might be satisfactory, but with the device shifted to a larger or smaller anatomical member, the current would flow, too freely "at one point and not freely enough at another. The result was that some part of the body treated would become overheated, and there was danger of burning the patient,'and the distribution of the electric current was rendered erratic and impossible to control.

By my invention these troubles are avoided, or greatly reduced.

The electrode plates here shown are mere ly typical, as the electrodes actually employed in practice may be of any of the known forms for applying current to the body,.and as pads, ohmless electrodes, conductive cushions, etc. a

I do not limit myself to the precise construction shown, as variations may be made therein without departing from my invention the scope of which is commensurate with my claims.

I claim:

1. Ina clamping electrode.the combination of a pair of supporting arms, a pair of electrode plates each carried by one of said arms, means for applying electric currents to said arms, handle members connected with said arms and controllable by the oper ator for causing said arms to move apart, spring mechanism connected with said arms for forcing them toward each other, and mechanism independent of said spring mechanism for enabling the operator to vary the distance tetween said electrode plates.

An electrode clamp comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected together, a pair of electrodes insulated from each other and each carried by one of said arms, a pair of handle members connected with said arms for shifting the relative positions thereof in one direction in order to vary the distance between said electrode plates, means for re tracting said arms into predetermined normal positions, and mechanism connect-ed within said arms and'controllable by the operator for further varying the distance apart of said electrode plates.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a pair of arms pivotally connected together and thus mounted to swing angularly upon a pivotal center, a pair of electrode plates mounted upon said arms, mechanism controllable by the operator for shifting said arms angularly upon said pivotal center in order to move the electrode plates angularly apart, spring mechanism for automatically shifting the arms toward each other in order to bring said elect-rode plates into different angular positions relatively toeach other, and adjustment mechanism con nected with said arms and controllable by the operator for varying the distance of said electrode plates from said pivotal center.

4. In a clamping electrode the combinaticnof a tubular pivot, a pair of yokes journaled upon said tubular pivot, spring mechanism connected-with said yokes', and with said pivot for the purpose of rocking said yokes into predetermined relative positions, a pair of arms connected with said yokes, a pair of electrode plates carried by said arms, mechanism controllable by the operator for virtually lengthening and shortening said arms, and means for energizing electrode plates.

5. An electrode clamp comprising a pair of supporting arms each provided with a slot, a pair of electrode plates mounted upon said supporting ari'ns, and each provided with a portion extending through said slot, so that said electrode plates are by aid of said slots adjustable bodily along Said supporting arms, mechanism connected with said supporting arms for enabling said supporting arms to swing to different angles relatively to each other, spring mechanism connected with said arms for retracting the same into predetermined normal positions, means controllable by the operator for Virtually lengthening and shortening said arms, and connections for energizing said electrode plates.

6. In a clamping electrode the combination of a pair of suppor ing arms pivotally connected together, a pair of electrodes mounted upon said supporting arms, and mechanism comiected with said supporting arnis and controllable by the operator for varying the distance of said electrodes from the point at which said supporting arms are pivotally connected together.

7. An electrode'clamq') con'iprising a pair of supporting arms pivotally connected togather, a pair of electrode plates detachably mounted upon said supporting arms and ad justable bodily in relation thereto for enabling said electrode plates to be shifted into different positions relatively. to said supporting arms, and mechanism carried by said supporting arms and controllable by the operator for virtually lengthening and shortening said supporting arms.

8. An electrode clamp comprising a pair of supportingarms, handle mechanism con nected with said supporting arms for enabling the operator to shift said supporting arms augularly into dillcrent positions relatively to each other, a pair of electrode plates mounted upon said supporting arms respectively, and adjusting mechanism can ricd by saidsupporting arms and connected with said electrode plates for enabling the operator to shift the position of said electrode plates relatively to the length of said supporting arms.

pingelectrode compiis-iinoa pair of supporting arms, a pair of electrode plates mounted upon s5 d supporting. arms, mechanism carried by said supporting arms to]! enublin the operator to turn 2 :id ole .ie-ode plates iito dillerent positions relatively to the length of said supporting arms, means tor. ene 'zing said electrode plates, and mechanism carried by saidsu1.) 3orting arms and controllable by the operatorfor-virtually changing the length of saidsupporting arms.

10. A clamping electrode comprising a pair of supporting arms,a pair of electrode plates supported by, said supporting.. arms and normally lacing-each other, each supporting plate being adjustably revolubl'e uponan axis extending through the sup porting .arm carrying the electrode plate, and mechanism carried by said supporting arms enabling said arms to be-swung to different angles relatively to each other.

11. In a clamping electrode the combination of a pair of supporting arms, a pair of electrode plates each mounted'upon one of said arms, each electrode plate being adiustable bodily along the arm upon whichlt is mounted and also adjustable angularly in relation to the length of said l'astmention'ed arm, a pivotal mountingfor said supporting arms, and means controllable by the operator for "virtually varying the lengthof'said supiortiug arms.

12. In a clamping electrode the combination of a pair of supporting arms, apair of electrodes mounted upon said supporting arms means for energizing said electrodes, and mcchanir m connected with said supmrting arms andcontrol-lable by the operator for varying the distance between said electrodes pivotally and also by sliding said electrodes along a straight member.

12- In. a clamping electrode the combination 0. a pair ofsupporting arms, a pair o'l electrodes mounted upon said supporting arms, means for energizing said electrodes, mechanism connected with said supporting arms and controllable by the operator for lengtheningand shortening said supporting arms, and means for enabling the operator to shift said supporting arms angularly in relation to each other.

14. In a clamping electrode. the combination of a pair of supporting arms, a pair of electrodes mounted upon said supporting armsmeansfor energizing said electrodes,

and controllable by the operator forand. mechanism connected with said supporting arms and controllable by the operator for varying the distance between the-electrodes, both by changing the angle between -them and by keeping the angle between the planes of the electrodes unchanged.

Signed at Long Island. City,'in the county of Queens and State of New York, this 31 day of March. 1925.

FREDERICK H. \VAPPLER. 

